Alberta creates grant funding for community justice organizations

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Government of Alberta is investing $1.2 million into creating one-time grant availability for organizations supporting alternatives to the formal court system. 

Via release, it is detailed the Alberta Community Justice Grant is geared to increasing access to justice within a community setting that is proactive, culturally sensitive, trauma informed, and tailored to the specific needs of vulnerable Albertans. 

Minister of Justice, Mickey Amery, held a round table conference to discuss the applicability and potential impacts the grant can, or aims to have for rural Albertans specifically. 

“Spreading this message is incredibly important because I think that there are so many different ways that we can approach justice in this province. And this is just one of many tools that we have to help address this,” he said. “On Jan. 30, we announced the Alberta community Justice Grant to give Albertans more options for resolving criminal, family, and justice civil matters outside of the courtroom.”

Amery referred to the grants as an investment in the capacity and effectiveness of community-based organizations. 

Community justice refers to initiatives which aim to involve respective localities to develop alternative ways of dealing with justice issues, and providing a forum for crime prevention specific to the community in which efforts are applied, outside of traditional policing and formal law enforcement.

These efforts may address a greater understanding of victim, offender, and local community needs, as opposed to applying justice and crime prevention as prescribed by a larger policing umbrella.

Eligible community-based organizations and interest groups can apply for a one-time grant between $5,000 to $25,000 to support current community justice programs or create innovative alternatives to the formal court system. Applications will be accepted from Jan. 31 to Feb. 29.

“I’m excited about this opportunity because this grant presents for rural communities to better their own community justice programs, reflecting their values and their priorities,” he said. “The eligibility criteria is broad … that favours some of the applicants who can demonstrate at least one of these things … one of those is whether an organization or an applicant demonstrates that they will be able to strengthen the capabilities of community based justice organizations, not for profit entities, and or both the volunteer sector to provide access to justice programming covering either the family, civil, or criminal matters.”

Further, he explained organizations can demonstrate that they are important empowering Albertans to identify, understand, and resolve their legal issues within a community framework, restoring confidence in Alberta.

More information regarding the grant funding, guidelines, and eligibility criteria are available through the Government of Alberta website.